It's that time of year. You can walk outside of your cabin and hear the bzzzz of the bees as they are drinking from the mountain honeysuckle. The flowers are starting to bloom up top. We have the honeysuckle, bee balm, cone flowers, monks hood, and jewel weed. I will start posting pics as soon as they come into full swing. It is one of my favorite seasons on the mountain. I love the color that can be seen all over camp.

Ronnie

7/9/2011 02:54:37 am

Hello LeConte fans.

Alex's dad here.

Just in case any of you were wondering about the "bearded American", he's in Santiago, Spain and has finished his 1,500 mile stroll. He and his friend Tyler will soon be flying to Bacelona to work on a farm near there.

Here's a little bit from his email if you aren't on the list.

Amigos,

Everyday is an adventure.
Something unexpected happens.
Immediate friendships are born and gone in the wind. Things are thrown out of car windows?

I have returned back to Santiago de Compostela. The town I love (endless roads of food, bars, incredibly old buildings, and people who are happy to be friendly to someone who just spent three months walking to their city) and hate ( this town is IMPOSSIBLE to navigate through, and often i spend hours wandering around looking for something... and if the Galician coast has its prefered way... it´s in a steady wet, cold drizzle.) After 13 days on beaches, I´ve defeated my sock tan, and relaxed my legs to a point where they don´t make the squeaking noises of unoiled machinery joints.
i spent 2 days in Cee, 6 in Finisterre, 3 in Muxia, and 2 on another large uninhabited beach. I really enjoyed all these places differently. Finisterre is the end of the trail for most people, with the epic mile stone sign on the edge of a cliff looking out onto endless ocean, claiming 0 km left. It was a very spiritual and happy time. I popped open a bottle of Galician wine, and from the base of the Cape Finisterre Lighthouse, watched the sun disappear into the ocean impossibly far away. This point of europe was known as the end of the world for people until christopher columbus proved em wrong and showed that the world was, in fact, not flat as it really seems from that point. It´s a very special place, and when the sun has made its last light, the Faro (light house)kicks on and starts beaming light into the dark, dark night. And when the stars began to flicker, they gave an erie, mystic color to the massive waves pummeling into the rocks just below you. Between the waves and wind, it´s incredibly loud. And then, the 2 mile walk in the dark back to town lit by the rhythmic flashes of the lighthouse bulb spinning. As the town comes into view, you catch a glimpse of the beach (where i´ll be camping tonight) and the bonfire has already started. More wine, music, and Unbelievable trail stories, and next thing you know its 4 am. Better get to sleep! i´ve got a full day of suntanning and wandering around tomorrow.
It was really something being in finisterre seeing people finishing the trail and then leaving to go back home. I was running into people walking to the grocery store that I had talked to a month before. I saw a french couple that I met a week after Le Puy en Velay, and walked with for maybe a week. And so it goes on this trail, we got seperated and hadn´t seen each other for a month and a half, and then there we were having coffee together again. crazy! And this happened several times of the course of the week.

Walking to the lighthouse. I guess they were fed up with trying to get the antennae to stay. It takes patience and time, (ive got plenty of time) but it works perfectly. A Grundig FM radio! Thrown from the passenger side window on to the road, pieces scattering. It was only an hour before I was complaining to someone that I dont get to listen to enough music out here, and I think its driving me insane. and Boom! a Radio is practically thrown at me. The classical and folk music station comes in the best. Spanish opera is entrancing for me at this point in my life. And guess what! They´ll be some spanish opera going on tonight in Santiago, So i´ll get dressed up... in my north face vest and carhartts and make my way to the gigantic theatre for some opera tonight, if they let me in.

Tocarlo con calma!
Hasta Luego,
Alexander

Tony Ga

7/9/2011 03:42:32 am

Alex is Da Man!

Wanda

7/9/2011 03:48:34 am

Great photos, Allyson.
Just heard from Alex. Sounds like he's having a great time.

Rose

7/9/2011 10:31:30 am

So good to hear from Alex!! MAN!! What a life!!

Rose

7/9/2011 10:32:26 am

Almost forgot...thank you Alex's dad!!

Jacque J

7/9/2011 11:08:58 am

Can not wait for more pics of flowers on the mountain! Will there be very many flowers still blooming in late August? Love this blog!

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LeConte Lodge

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